Toy water guns



June 19, 1956 E, D O'BRlAN 2,751,116

TOY WATER GUNS Filed Jan. 26, 1956 IN V EN TOR.

United States Patent TOY WATER GUNS Edward D. OBrian, Anaheim, Calif.

Application January 26, 1956, Serial No. 561,387

13 Claims. (Cl. 222-79) This invention relates primarily to new andimproved toy water guns, and is a continuation in part of the copendingapplication entitled Toy Guns, Serial No. 518,021, filed June 27, 1955.

A number of distinctly different factors should be taken intoconsideration in designing new toys' for children. One of these factorsis the normal desire of a child to have toys which simulate adultimplements. Mere simulation frequently is not sufiicient to attract theattention of a child to a new toy, however, particularly in the casewhere the structure simulated is infrequently used by adults. A toy ofthis category should go a step further and do something which willexcite the imagination of not only a child but an adult. Thus, a largenumber of different toys have been developed in which the operativeaction tends to relate to possible future scientific development.

It is an object of this invention to provide toy water guns meeting thebroad qualifications indicated in the preceding paragraph. Morespecifically, the toy water guns of this invention are designed so thateither a child or an adult may use them to direct a sometimes unwantedstream of water in virtually any direction. Thus the new guns of thisinvention can be used to squirt water around a corner or an objectwithout exposing the operator of the gun to view. They can also be usedin the conventional mannerqof any water gun and in other manners whichtend to amuse people.

The toy water guns of the present invention possess other, perhaps moredesirable characteristics, than those derived from the fact that theycould be shot in an almost indeterminable variety of directions. Aconventional completely rigid toy can, in the hands of an angry child,be a somewhat dangerous weapon. Children are especially prone to knockeach other or furniture with an extended portion of a gun under certaincircumstances. With this invention the barrels of toy water guns aremade in a flexible manner so that they will not cause serious damagewhen applied with force to an object.

Because of the nature of this invention it is not considered necessaryor advisable to encumber this specification with a long list ofso-called objects. The basic features of this invention as well as theabove and other advantages of it will be realized from a considerationof the remainder of this specification including the appended claims andthe accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view, partially in section, of a preferred formof a toy water gun of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of part of the water gun Shown in Fig. 1, portionsof this view being taken in section;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a modified toy water t gun of theinvention;

Fig. 4 is a side view similar to Fig. 2 of the gun shown in Fig. 3;

Figs. 5 and 6 are cross-sectional views taken at lines S--S and 6-6respectively of Fig. 4 of the drawings;

Fig. 7 is a partial side view, portions of which are in section, ofanother modified toy water gun of the invention similar to that shown inFig. l; and

Fig. 8 is an expanded view in perspective of certain of 2,751,116Patented June 19,.1956

iCC.

the parts used in the gun shown in Fig. 7 indicating the manner ofassembly.

It is to be understood that the accompanying drawings are primarilydesigned so as to indicate to those familiar with the manufacture anddesign of toys various preferred manners of constructing toy water gunsin accordance with this invention. Obviously the invention is not to beconsidered as being limited to guns having the precise sizes and shapesillustrated. It it possible to easily form a Wide variety of differentgun structures having different appearances utilizing the basic featuresof this invention as set forth in this specification.

1n order to aid in understanding the present invention it may be statedby way of a summary that each of the toy water guns falling within thescope of this disclosure includes an elongated barrel, which barrel iscomparatively flexible and yet is sufficiently rigid so as to beself-supporting when bent to any desired configuration or shape. Theactual nature of the invention is considered to be more fully summarizedand defined by the appended claims.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings there is shown a toy water gun 1f) ofthe invention having the essential form of an automatic pistol. Thiswater gun differs from a conventional water gun in having a two-partbarrel consisting of a first part 12 and an extending second part 14.This extending part 14 includes a comparatively elongated tube 16 of aflexible resinous material such as a polyvinyl composition, polyethyleneor the like. Within the end of the tube 16, extended from the gun 10,there is located a tip 18 having formed therein an aperture 20 servingas a nozzle for the gunv 10. This tip 18 may be formed of either metalor plastic in ways known to the art, fits closely within the tube 16 soas to seal the end of the tube 16 so that water may pass only throughthe aperture 20, and is preferably sealed or otherwise similarly securedto the tube 16 by an adhesive, or by heat 'sealing if the tip 18 is of aplastic composition, or by other equivalent means known to the art. Aflange 22 on the tip 18 prevents the tip from being inserted completelywithin the tube 16.

The end of the tube 16 adjacent to the first Vpart 12 is attached tothis first part by fitting over a projecting generally cylindricalbushing 24. The bushing itself is preferably fornied with an externalbead 26 serving to aid in holding the tube 16 in place. If desired, thetube 16 may be attached to the bushing 24 by the use of an adhesive asindicated above or through the use of heat sealing if the bushing 24 isformed of an appropriate plastic material.

With the preferred construction of the invention, the exterior parts ofthe gun 10 excepting the second part 14 are formed out of a rigidplastic such as polystyrene by established moulding techniques so as toconstitute a housing 28 serving as a gun stock formed of two bilaterallysymmetrical parts 30. These two parts are adapted to fit together so asto hold a pump 32 having attached thereto ball valves 34 which may besimilar to valves 66 and 72 subsequently described in this specificationand extending tubes 36 in an operative position with the upper one ofthese tubes 36 communicating with a groove 38, half of which is formedin each of the parts 30 in a portion of the housing 28 serving as ahandle. This groove 38 extends along the length of the first part 12through the housing 28 to a nonround chamber 40 formed similarly to thegroove 38 so that half of the chamber is located within each of theparts 30. The chamber 40 is located transversely to the axis of thesecond part 14 and communicates to the interior of the tube 16 through asmall passage 42 extending through the bushing 24. One half of thebushing is formedby each of the parts 30.

A wire 44 having a'bent end 46 is located so that this bent `en`d is'heldwithinthe vchamber 4i)l 'and so th'at'the remainder of the wireextends through the passage 42 substantially .throughout the length ofthe tube 16. As canbe seer'i'from Fig. 2 of the drawing, the wire 44 isof smaller diameter than the internal diameter of the tube I6. The bentend 46 serves to prevent rotation of the wire 44 by fitting against theWalls of the chamber 40. The-material from which the wire 44 is formedis important with the instant invention, as this wire Contributesmaterially to the operative features of the invention. Suitablematerials are soft copper or copper alloys, soft aluminum or aluminumalloys and the like. These materials are substantially unaffected bywater and hence will not `give rise to rust or the like which will `tendto clog the aperture 20 during use of the gun 10. Further, thesematerials may be readily bent by a child to virtually any desiredconfiguration and are self supporting when so-bent. Thus, with theinstant invention, the second part 14 -is Ycomparatively liexible andyet is sufii'cientlyrigid so that a child can bend it to positions suchas are indicated by the lines shown in Fig. 2. The barrel can, ofcourse, be bent to` other configurations and in a commercial embodimentof the invention can even be tied in overhand knot. When so bent, thetip 18 remains in the position where it is located as the gun is used,enabling the gun to be shot around a corner or the like.

Water, or other liquid, may be introduced into the gun 10 through anopening 48 in the housing 28 so as to be carried within this housing. Asmall rubber or other equivalent plug 50-is used so as to close theopening 48 in order to prevent loss of water. The pump 32 is designed tobe vactuated by means of a trigger S2 slidably mounted in a conventionalmanner in a groove upon the base of the first part 12 of the barrel.When the ytrigger is so actuated, water will flow up from an open end 54in one of the tubes 36 and out through the aperture in the tip 18serving as a nozzle. The Wire 44 normally prevents complete constrictionof the tube 16 when-this tube is bent so as to prevent liquid iiowthrough it.

In Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawing, there is shown a modified toy water gun56 of the invention which employs a gun stockr or handle 58 which ispreferably formed with two rigid bilaterally symmetrical sections 60 sothat when these sections are secured against one another during assemblythey define within the stock a reservoir 62 from which there leads apassage 64 which in turn leads to -a ball valve 66. This ball valve isconnected to a pump 68 of conventional design so that when a trigger 70is pulled Water will be forced from the pump 68 past another ball valve72 through a passage 74 leading to the interionof a-cylindrical cavity76. The interior walls of this cavity 76 are lpreferably serrated sothat when the sections are placed together a tiexible tube 78 of thecategory previously described is kheld so as to project from the stock58. Within the end of this tube remote from the stock S8 there islocated a tip 80 similar to the tip 18 previously described. This tipincludes, in addition to an aperture 82 adapted to serve as a nozzle, anopening 84. A wire 86 similar to the wire 44 previously described ispreferably secured within this opening 84 in any convenient manner asthrough the use of adhesive, rivets or-the like so as to extend backthrough the tube -78 and through the cavity 76 to where it is providedwith a bent end 88 which is adapted to fit within a correspondinglyshaped groove 90. This groove serves to prevent rotation of the wire 86.Each of the sections 60 carries one half of the groove 90 in asimyilar-ma'nuer'to which each of the sections 60 is designed within'each of the sections 60. Thetrigger 70 preferably projects outwardlyfrom th`e pump 68 so as to be conveniently actuated. Y

The modified toy water gun 56 differs from the gun 1G in severalrespects. -One of these is that the wire 86 serves to help aid inretaining the tip 80 in position in the end of the 'tube 78. The wirealso, when used in the manner shown, serves to aid in holding the tube78 in position. In spite of this, it is frequentlydesirable to use meanssuch asan adhcsiveor the like to aid inxpositioning the tube 78 in asecure manner. Y

In Fig. 7, part of 'a modified toy water gun 92 of the invention isshown. This modified structure is similar to that shown in Figs. l and 2of the drawings, but differs primarily in that a small bushing 94 havingan enlarged collar 96 is located so that the collar 96 is positionedwithin a chamber 98 corresponding to the chamber 40 previouslydescribed. This bushing extends outwardly through an enlarged passage100 similar to the passage 42 previously described. A tube 102, similarto the tube 16, is iocated around the bushing 94 so as to be heldtightly against it by the walls forming the passage 100. A wire V104similar to the Vwire v44 extends through an opening 106 inthe bushing94. This method of construction aids in tightly holding the tubeemployed so as to prevent accidental dislodgement of it by a child. Ifdesired, an adhesive or other means as previously described can beemployed to aid in holding this tube 102 in place. The other portions ofthe modified gun 92 are identical with -the gun 10 previously describedand hence will not be specifically recited here.

It should'be obvious from a'consideration of the aforegoing, that thisinvention is capable of wide modification without departing from theessential features of it. As anexample of some of the modificationswhich may be made, the wires used in either the gun 10 or the gun 92 canbe provided with bent ends having a shape other than specifically shown.All such modifications are to be vconsidered as part of the inventiveconcept present here vof flexible material so as to support said tube.

l2. A new and improved toy gun which includes an elongated barrel, saidbarrel comprising: a hollow tube of fiexible material; and a wirecapable of being bent by a child located within said tube, said wirebeing self supporting when b ent to any desired configuration and beingof smaller diameter than the internal diameter of said tube.

3. A water gun which includes: a gun stock; a pumping unit disposed insaid gun stock; trigger means `for activating said pumping unit; a gunbarrel attached to said gun stock, said gun barrel including anelongated flexible hollow tube and means operatively connected with saidtube capable of being easily bent to any desired configuration, saidmeans being self supporting when bent to a desired configuration andextending along the length of said tube so as to be capable of holdingsaid tube in a desired configuration when bent; and passage meansconneeting said gun barrel with said pumping unit.

4. A toy gun which comprises: a gun stock; a flexible hollow tubeattached at one end thereof to said gun stock so as to project from saidgun stock; a wire capable of being easily bent to any desiredconfiguration and being self supporting when Vbent to a desiredconfiguration, said wire being operatively associated with said tube soas to extend Valong said tube and so as to be capable of -holdingsaidytube in a desired configuration; .means dismeansfor Iactivatingsaid.means .for shooting saidgun.

5. A toy Water gun which comprises: a rigid housing serving as a gunstock; a bushing extending from said housing; means defining a passagethrough said bushing; an elongated tube of flexible resinous materialpositioned on said bushing so as to extend from said housing; a tiphaving an aperture therein serving as a nozzle positioned within the endof said tube remote from said bushing, said tip fitting within said tubeso as to seal the end of said tube so that a liquid may only pass fromsaid tube through said aperture; a wire capable of being bent to adesired configuration and being self supporting when so bent positionedso as to extend through said passage to within said tube, said wireextending substantially throughout the length of said tube; means forpreventing rotation of said wire; means disposed within said housing forcausing a liquid to ow through said passage, said tube and saidaperture; and means for actuating said means for causing a liquid to ow.

6. A toy water gun as defined in claim 5 wherein said bushing is formedintegrally with said housing.

7. A toy water gun as defined in claim 5 wherein said housing is formedwith an opening therein and wherein said bushing is positioned withinsaid opening, and Wherein said `tube is held between said bushing andsaid housing.

8. A toy water gun which comprises: a rigid housing serving as a gunstock, said housing having an opening formed therein; an elongated tubeof flexible resinous material attached to said housing so that thecenter of said tube is in communication with said opening; a tip havingan aperture therein serving as a nozzle positioned within the end ofsaid tube remote from said housing, said tip tting within said tube soas to seal the end of said tube so that a liquid may pass from said tubeonly through said aperture; a wire capable of being bent to a desiredconfiguration and being self supporting when so bent positioned so as toextend through said opening to within said tube, said wire extendingsubstantially throughout the length of said tube; means formed on saidwire for preventing rotation of said wire, said means formed on saidwire coacting with part of said housing so as to prevent rotation ofsaid wire; means disposed within said housing for causing a liquid toliow through said opening, said tube and said aperture; and means foractuating said means for causing a liquid to flow.

9. A toy water gun as defined in claim 8 wherein one end of said Wire isattached to said tip and wherein said means formed in said wirecomprises a bent portion of said wire, said bent portion being engagedby part of said housing so as to prevent the rotation of said wire.

10. A toy water gun as defined in claim 8 wherein said opening comprisesan interior cylindrical cavity and wherein said tube is held within saidcavity.

1l. A toy water gun which comprises: a rigid housing serving as a gunstock, said housing having an opening formed therin; an elongated tubeof iiexible, resinous material attached to said housing so that thecenter of said tube is in communication with said opening; a tip havingan aperture therein serving as a nozzle positioned within the end ofsaid tube remote from said housing, said tip fitting Within said tube soas to seal the end of said tube so that water may pass from said housingthrough said tube only through said aperture; a comparatively flexiblewire which is sufliciently rigid so that it can be bent to a desiredposition located so as to extend through said opening to within saidtube, said wire extending substantially throughout the length of saidtube; means for preventing rotation of said wire; means disposed withinsaid housing for causing water to liow through said opening into saidtube and through said aperture; and trigger means for actuating saidmeans for causing water to tiow.

12. A toy gun which comprises: a gun stock; a hollow fiexible tubeattached at one end thereof to said gun stock so as to project away fromsaid gun stock; a wire capable of being easily bent to any desiredconfiguration and being self supporting when bent to a desiredconfiguration, said wire being positioned within said tube so as to holdsaid tube in a configuration corresponding to the configuration of saidwire and being of smaller diameter than the internal diameter of saidtube; means for preventing rotation of said wire; means disposed in saidgun stock for shooting said gun; and trigger means for activating saidmeans for shooting said gun.

13. A toy water gun whiuh comprises: a rigid housing serving as a gunstock, said housing having an opening formed therein; an elongated tubeof iiexible, resinous material attached to said housing so that thecenter of said tube is in communication with said opening; a tip havingan aperture therein serving as a nozzle positioned within the end ofsaid tube remote from said housing, said tip fitting Within said tube soas to seal the end of said tube so that a liquid may pass from said tubeonly through said aperture; a wire capable of being bent to a desiredconfiguration and being self supporting when so bent positioned so as toextend through said opening to within said tube, said wire extendingsubstantially throughout the length of said tube and being of smallerdiameter than the internal diameter of said tube; means formed on saidwire for preventing rotation of said wire; means disposed within saidhousing for causing a liquid to flow through said opening, said tubeland said aperture; and means for actuating said means for causing aliquid to ow.

References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 277,496Marks May 15, 1883 825,270 Guilliford July 3, 1906 958,711 De Moulin May17, 1910 958,712 Riggs May 17, 1910 1,102,948 Norton July 7, 19142,061,817 Van Cleef Nov. 24, 1936 2,392,024 Couri Jan. 1, 1946 2,542,601Van Cleef Feb. 20, 1951

